Los Angeles Times

Astros cruise to Game 1 win

McCullers pitches scoreless ball into seventh inning as Houston beats Chicago convincing­ly in ALDS.

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HOUSTON — Lance McCullers Jr. was terrific. Yordan Alvarez delivered, and Jose Altuve scored on a nifty slide.

The Houston Astros sure love October.

McCullers pitched scoreless ball into the seventh inning, and the Astros beat Lance Lynn and the Chicago White Sox 6-1 in Game 1 of their AL Division Series on Thursday.

Michael Brantley added two hits and two RBIs as the AL West champions showed off their playoff experience in an impressive opening performanc­e. McCullers allowed four hits in 6 2⁄3 innings in his eighth career postseason start.

“You get the ball in Game 1 and your team is expecting this from you,” McCullers said.

While Houston is in the playoffs for the fifth straight season, winning the World Series in 2017 and making it to the AL Championsh­ip Series last year, Chicago is making a second straight playoff appearance for the first time in franchise history. It lost to Oakland in the first round in 2020.

Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Friday in Houston. The teams also met in the 2005 World Series, with the White Sox sweeping the Astros for the title.

It was Houston’s eighth straight win in the opener of the division series dating to Game 1 of the 2004 NLDS against Atlanta.

“Everyone did their part, did their thing and we came out with a great win,” said McCullers, playing the role of staff ace after losing Gerrit Cole in free agency and Justin Verlander to injury in recent years, who struck out four and walked none.

He set career highs with 13 wins, a 3.16 ERA and 185 strikeouts during the regular season, but he also led the AL with 76 walks.

Altuve wowed the crowd of 40,497 when he slid home and slapped the back of the plate just ahead of Yasmani Grandal’s tag in the third.

“I think the turn of the game was that slide by Altuve that gave us the momentum,” McCullers said.

The 28-year-old McCullers didn’t allow a hit until Yoan Moncada singled with one out in the fourth. The right-hander left to a standing ovation after giving up consecutiv­e singles with two outs in the seventh. He waved to the cheering fans just before entering the dugout.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “We didn’t do much with him.”

Chicago got on the board on Jose Abreu’s two-out single in the eighth. Grandal was retired on a liner to center for the final out.

 ?? Bob Levey Getty Images ?? JOSE ALTUVE gives Houston momentum early, avoiding the tag of Chicago’s Yasmani Grandal.
Bob Levey Getty Images JOSE ALTUVE gives Houston momentum early, avoiding the tag of Chicago’s Yasmani Grandal.

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